The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-12-03

culiar look Of Machiavellian sagacity In
his face which irritated Renshaw.
"Then you're sure II was Ferreres You
saw pass by your window before you called
mel" he asked.
Mott nodded his head with an express
sion of infinite profundity.
"But you say he was going from the
ship. Then it could not have been he
who made the noise we heard down here, "
"Mebbe no and mebbe yes" returned
Mott, cautiously.
"But II he was already concealed inside
the ship, as that open door, which you say
you barred from the inside, would indi-
cate, what the devil did he want with
this'" said Renshaw, producing the mon
key wrench he had picked up.
Mr.. Mott examined the tool carefully
and shook his head with momentous sig
nificance. Nevertheless, his eyes wan
dered to the hatch on which he was seated.
Ibid you find anything disturbed
theref' said Renshaw, following the di-
rection Of his eye. WAS that hatch fast
ened rs II is now"
ut was" said Mott calmly. ''But ye
wouldn't mind fetchin me hammer and
some o. them big nails from the locker,
would yer, while hang round here jus,
so o. to make sure against another at
tack"
Renshaw complied with his request
but as Mott proceeded 10 gravely na1
down the fastenings of the hatch, he
turned impatiently away to complete his
exclamation Of the ship. The doors OF
the other lofts and their fastenings APP
peared secure and undisturbed. Yet il
was undenable that felonious entrance
had been made, but by whom, or for what
purpose, still remained uncertain. Even
now Renshaw found it difficult to accept
Motifs theory that de Ferrieres was the
aggressor and Rosey the object, nor could
he justify his own suspicion that the Las
car had obtained n surreptitious entrance
under Sleight's directions. With n feeling
that il Rosey had been present ne would
have confessed all, and demanded from
her an equal confidence, he began to hate
his feeble, purposeless and inefficient ALI.
ance with her father, who believed but
dare not tax his daughter with completely
in this outrage. What could be done with
a man whose only idea of action at such a
moment was TO nail up an undisturbed
entrance in his invaded house! He was so
preoccupied with these thoughts that when
Mott rejOined him in the cabin he scarcely
needed his presence, and was entirely OBJ.
livious of the furtive looks which the old
man from time to time cast upon his face.
~ reckon ye wouldn't mind" broke in
Mott, suddenly, "ef asked a favor Of ye,
Mr.. Renshaw. Mebbee ye'll allow it'a
askin' too much In the matter Of expense;
mebbee ye'll allow it's askin' too much In
the matter o. time, But kalkilate to pay
all the expense, and il you'd let me know
what yer vally yer time at, l reckon ]
could stand that. What I'd be askin' Is
this. Would ye mind takin letter from
me TO Rosey, and bringin' back an
answer?'
Renshaw stared speechlessly at this alb
surd realization of his wish of moment
before. ~ don't think understand
you," he stammered,
"P'r'aps not" returned Mott, with
great gravity. "But that's not so much
to you ~ your time and expenses"
II meant should he glad to go II | can
bc of nm, service to you," said Renshaw,
hastily.
"You kin ketch the I O'Clock boat this
morning. and you'll reach San Rafael
at 10"---
But | thought Miss Rosey went to
Petaluma," interrupted Renshaw quickly.
Mott regarded him with an expression
Of patronizing superiority. THAT'S what
we ladled out to the public ginrally, and
to Ferrers and his gang in partckler. We
said Petalumey, but II you 20 to Madron0
Cottage, San Rafael you'll find Rosey
thar"
II Mr., Renshaw required anything more
TO convince him of tine necessity Of coming
to some understanding with Rosey at once
IL would have been this last evidence of
her fathers utterly dark and supremely
inscrutable designs. He assented quickly,
and Mott handed him note.
"le'll be partckler to give this inter
her own hands, and wait for an answer"
said Mott gravely
Resisting the proposition to enter then
and there into an elaborate calculation OF
the value of his time and the expenses of
Of the trip, Renshaw found himself at Z
o'clock Oh the San Rafael boat Brief as
was the journey it gave him time to re-
fleet upon his coming interview with
Rosey. He had resolved to begin by con-
Tossing all; the attempt Of last night had
released him from any sense of duty to
Sleight, Besides, he did not doubt that
Motifs letter contained some reference to
this affair only known to Motifs dark and
tortuous intelligence.
To BE- Continued